Albert Schnez
| Albert Schnez | |
|---|---|
|
Albert Schnez in 1967 | |
| Born |
30 August 1911 Abtsgmünd, Baden, German Empire |
| Died |
26 April 2007 (aged 95) Bonn, Germany |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Weimar Republic.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany West Germany |
| Service/branch |
.svg.png){kind=small} Reichswehr Wehrmacht.svg.png){kind=small} Bundeswehr |
| Years of service |
1930–1945 1957–1971 |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Unit | 25th Panzergrenadier Division |
| Commands held |
5th Panzer Division (1962) III Corps (1965) Inspector of the Army (1968) |
| Awards |
German Cross in Gold (1944) Federal Cross of Merit (1971) |
Albert Schnez (30 August 1911 – 26 April 2007) was an officer in three successive German armies: the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, and finally the Bundeswehr, the armed forces of the modern Federal Republic of Germany. He was involved in the debate on the internal leadership of the newly formed Bundeswehr and was close to the German defense minister, Franz Josef Strauss. Schnez served from 1968 to 1971 with the rank of lieutenant-general (Generalleutnant) as the Inspector of the Army.
From 1949, Schnez, together with other veterans of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS, built a clandestine shadow army, the "Schnez-Truppe", that intended to fight against the Soviet Union.[1] By 1951, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer had learned of the existence of this secret army and its head Schnez, but evidently declined to act against them.[1]
References
- 1 2 Klaus Wiegrefe (14 May 2014). "Files Uncovered: Nazi Veterans Created Illegal Army". Der Spiegel.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Josef Moll |
Inspector of the Army 1 October 1968 – 30 September 1971 |
Succeeded by Generalleutnant Ernst Ferber |
| Preceded by Generalleutnant Heinrich Gaedcke |
Commanding General, III Corps (Bundeswehr) 1 April 1965 – 30 September 1968 |
Succeeded by Generalleutnant Gerd Niepold |
| Preceded by Generalmajor Günther Pape |
Commander of 5th Panzer Division (Bundeswehr) 1 October 1962 – 31 March 1965 |
Succeeded by Generalmajor Heinz Hükelheim |
| ||||||||
|